Best Free Photography (2011)

If you've ever stopped in at 2000 Avenue of the Stars — the Century City monument that houses CAA — you know it resembles a spooky megachurch, a temple devoted to the glory of the Hollywood hustle. But climb a nearby flight of stairs and cross a small courtyard, and you'll find a chapel of an entirely different sort. The Annenberg Space for Photography hosts photo exhibits and lectures, adding a splash of color to the chrome and glass surroundings. The current exhibition, "Beauty Culture" (up through the end of November), examines Western standards of attractiveness through fashion stills and video. The photographs provide a welcome relief from the corporate materialism that abounds here — until you remember that sex also counts as a kind of currency. Whatever. Entrance to the museum is free, and parking will run you just $1-$3.50, depending on the time of day. 2000 Avenue of the Stars, #10, Century City. (213) 403-3000, annenbergspaceforphotography.org.